Just behind the City Palace, Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri is a very photogenic double-storey cenotaph facing a step-tank (Sagar). The lower level is built from red sandstone with arches and columns, while the upper pavilion in white marble has domes, chhatris and finely carved pillars. Ceiling paintings show mythological scenes and court life, and the whole structure is raised above a plinth, reflected in the water below on calm days. Because it stands between the palace and the hill, with Bala Qila in the background, it has become one of Alwar’s most iconic heritage views.
About this place
History & highlights
The chhatri was built in 1815 CE by Maharaja Vinay Singh of Alwar in memory of his predecessor Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh (r. 1791–1815) and Rani Moosi, who, according to local tradition, committed sati on her husband’s funeral pyre. Architecturally it blends Rajput and Indo-Islamic influences – cusped arches, Bengali-influenced domes and intricate stone carving – and is often described as one of the finest examples of 19th-century cenotaph architecture in Mewat. Together with Sagar Lake and the City Palace, it forms a historic ensemble that tells the story of Alwar’s Naruka Rajput rulers and their memorial culture.
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